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ID rifle or ammo

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 2:32 am
by golfpin
'morning fellow gun nuts, was paging through the September 2015 page 30 -> of that great American classic National Geographic, and am very puzzeled. I saw a pic of a game ranger fording a river with a auto - semi [?] of some make over his shoulder but the bandoliiers to me looked as if the cartridges were RIMMED possibly 303 British but it does not addup. The rifle I suppose coud be a Bren but that is contradicted by the belts. Unless the belts were used purely as a means of transporting the ammo, Bren being box mag fed from the top. Just thought it may be of interest, if you have access to that NG, appreciate a comment. Does any one know of a semi or auto shoulder arm that uses a rimed cartridge? Shouldn,t use the word current who knows how old that weapon is! To Earglo, who sent me some incredible pics of single shot Martini types.........sorry I never got back on how I managed to machine the lever extractor for that silohouette pistol I built, cannot remember All the best, Golfpin

Re: ID rifle or ammo

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 8:10 pm
by hammermill
the 7.62 x 54r saw service in many soviet weapons

Re: ID rifle or ammo

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2016 12:20 pm
by golfpin
Many thanks Hammermill led me on to interesting threads on the net. Golfpin

Re: ID rifle or ammo

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 4:19 pm
by steamin10
Ya, the 7.62 is a ubiquitous cartridge world wide. I have the SKS example and several K military rounds bought just before the crazy ammo thing. Regardless, it is available in many types of manufacture, and is a proficient performer in most cases. ( 39 and 54)

I had a Rugar Mini 14 in .223, and it is a weak sister to the SKS even given the quality problems as a diferential. The SKS is designed as an inexpensive to produce weapon, and suits its role well in that slot.

Other than that, one has their own desires and opinions on what is 'best'.

I bought my SKS for $80 at a gun show, and am satisfied. Any body should be aware, there is NO place to mount a stable optic on this thing. I have a picitini mount on a special replacement bolt cover. It is still unstable, but manageable. It extends the accurate range over iron sights, and that is the overall goal.

Now if I could just get signed up for a Helicopter Pig hunt....

Re: ID rifle or ammo

Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2016 1:36 am
by golfpin
Morning Steamin Ten, many thanks to you for the input. Oh to be able revel in the excuse of old age and a fading memory.I should have been able to put my own clues together but!! [maybe that should read butt] in fairness to myself I was not aware that the sks was chambered for the round in question, 7.62 *54 . You alluded to the big ammo thing?? what was that? We in RSA have had ammo/arms problems ever since the change of govt . Probably 90 % of private collectors had to give up many very valuable arms they were supposed to be handed into the police and destroyed!!! we all know where that one went. Also the possession of any automatic firearm has very very hefty penalties for the private sector. The RSA having had a border war on three of its borders for nearly 30 years ended up with a huge problem of communist arms that had been cached every where, and these started to make there way into the country, an AK 47 could be obtained on the black market for as little as the equivalent of $20 US or less, availability of ammo has become the major issue. As an aside has anyone ever read the book "Most Deadly Game " Sam Cummins [ex us army I think] thought to be the first of the BIG arms dealers had an office in Johannesburg he had a lot of dealings with the Govt of the time. Thanks for the input have a great day [we, sunny hot humid 30 degrees plus and no rain!!] Golfpin

Re: ID rifle or ammo

Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2016 11:16 am
by steamin10
UH, the SKS version is short cased 39. The 54 is historically the older round. In the US the traditional 'heavy rifle' was for years favored by the 30-06, with the .303 the European leader. Many other calibers exist of course, but I refer to the accepted military directions for warfighting. The US took the turn for .223 for the destructive power of the bullet tumble in flesh, and the lighter weight allowing more rounds per pound afield. Similarly the Kalishnikov was designed with a smaller shell, but maintained the heavy bullet weight, giving heavy hits at extended ranges. In my eyes somewhat superior overall to the .223 cartridge, as it can outrange it, other things being equal.

The 'ammo' thing, I refer to was the banning of some types of rounds based on armor piercing and steel core projectiles. It was a motioin to limit cheep surplus ammo from being on the market, that was flooded worldwide as some conflicts opened up caches, that were snapped up and resold. I remember a shipment of FNL guns that had to be rebarreled, because they were used as seats in country, and all the barrels were warped, with predictable accuracy results.

As for me, I bought a few case lots of ammo, and have Russ hollow points among others. I had 06 rounds that were Canadian surplus and found them slightly less accurate than US brands for unknown reasons, suspected propellant variations.

At any rate, the radicals that want to control the US are again trying to ruffle the gun owners, and set about to connect nearly any condition into criminal limits and termination of gun rights.

I truly dont understand many of the groundings of the world movements, South Africa, or otherwise. Many based on old scores and traditions held over reason. Beyond speaking to clarify the Big/Little bullet thing, I cannot go much further as politics are forbidden here, and it is not my wish to make waves on world news I know little about. The truth is usually a mucky thing that is quickly lost. Gun rights, ammunitions, and its motions are highly charged political topics here, and it is hard to have some reasonable discussions without touching on the politics of it.

Gun control is hitting your target. I bid you peace.

Re: ID rifle or ammo

Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2016 1:50 am
by golfpin
Many thanks for the time and effort for that Big Dave, Cheers Golfpin

Re: ID rifle or ammo

Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2016 6:18 pm
by pacrat
golfpin, I know this is a necro thread. I don't get out much anymore. ;-)

The rifle you mention in the magazine picture, is likely a "SVT-40" Soviet semi auto. Which used the 7.62x54 rimmed cartridge.

https://www.google.com/search?q=svt-40& ... DQMQsAQIHw

If you could post a picture of the rifle in question. You would have a definitive answer quickly.